Collapsible tube squeezer



Nov. 27, 1956 E. HARRINGTON 2,772,026

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER Filed Feb. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ce 2,772,026

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER Lawrence E. Harrington, Sepulveda, Calif., assignor of one-half to Walter W. Bullock, Alhambra, Calif.

I Application February 2, 1955, Serial No. 485,669

7 Claims. (Cl. 222-82) This invention relates to a device of squeezing collapsible tubes and has as its primary object the provision of a hand actuated tube squeezer which is operable to rapidly collapse a tube and efiect substantially complete discharge of the contents thereof in a single operation, the invention being particularly applicable for use in squeezing tubes of paint in the preparation of selected colors involving the mixture with a base paint, such as white, of the contents of one or more tubes of colors in accordance with a prescribed formula for producing a paint of a particular hue.

Another object is to provide a tube squeezer of the above character embodying a means whereby'the discharge end of a collapsible tube may be readily opened preliminary to squeezing the tube by rupturing the tube along the juncture of the side and end walls thereof in a fashion to efiect substantially complete removal of the end wall so as to fully open the tube and thus facilitate rapid discharge of the contents of the tube.

Another object is to provide an arrangement whereby the tube squeezer may be readily seated on and engaged with the margin of a container and then manipulated to deliver its contents into the container.

With the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the tube squeezer as seen in side elevation with portions broken away showing the operating parts in their normal position:

Fig. 2 is an end view as seen in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a view of the tube squeezer in longitudinal section showing the parts thereof as positioned in initial engagement with a tube to be squeezed and with the tube opening device disposed in readiness to eflect rupturing of the tube end:

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the structure shown in Fig. 3 with portions broken away:

Fig. 5 is a detail in cross section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 6 is a view of the tube squeezer in longitudinal section showing the parts as disposed on completion of the tube squeezing operation:

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the tube squeezer showing one side, the front end and the top thereof with the parts disposed in their normal position:

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the front end portion of the tube squeezer with the parts disposed as shown in Fig. 3 in readiness for rupturing the tube end:

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on the line 99 of Fig.- 8 illustrating the mode of operation of the tube opening device:

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the manner of applying the squeezer to the margin of a container in-readi- 2 H ness for ejecting the contents of the tube into the container: and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the collapsed tube when removed from the squeezer.

Referring to the drawings more specifically A indicates generally a housing constituting the body portion of the tube squeezer which housing is of generally inverted U-shaped cross section and embodies an elongated flat rectangular top wall a and parallel side walls bb which walls are formed of a stiff sheet material of requisite stiffness of any suitable character. The housing A is open at its ends and on-its under side. I

A handle B is rigidly atlixed to the housing A to project from the under side thereof at a point intermediate its ends which handle is here shown as formed of sheet metal bent into U-shaped cross section to provide side walls cc the upper ends of which terminate in a yoke C em.- bodying side members d which extend astride the side walls bb and are affixed hereto as by spot welding.

Mounted within the housing A is a rectangular tube squeezing panel D which underlies the top wall a with its side margins paralleling inner faces of the side walls bb proximate thereto. The panel D embodies a top plate e which is bent transversely intermediate its ends so that the end portions thereof slightly incline downwardly relative to each other and afford a transverse raised portion 1 intermediate the ends of the panel. The inner end of the plate e terminates in a flat portion g which extends in slight downward oblique relation to the adjacent portion of the plate which portion is mounted for rocking movement relative to the top wall a'by means of a pair of bolts 1212 extending downwardly through the top wall-a and passing loosely through openings h in the oblique plate portion g. The bolts terminate in heads 13 between which and the plate portion g are expansion coil springs 14 encompassing the shanks of the bolts 12 and exerting an upward thrust against the under side of the portion g tending to seat the portion g against the under side of the top plate a so as to hold the panel D in a normaldownwardly' extended intermediateposition relative to-the top wall a as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. I

The panel D is designed to be rocked vertically in the housing A and for which purpose the outer end thereof is pivotally connected to one end of a link E in the form of a turn-buckle, the other end of which link is pivotally connected by a pivot pin j to a rocker arm 15 carried on a pivot pin k supported on the side members 0-0 of the handle B, the rocker arm 15 being formed on a lever F normally extending in angular relation to the handle B and adapted to be grasped with the latter in the hand of the operator and manipulated to rock the rocker arm 15 to exert an initial upward thrust on the outer end of the panel D through the link E. The link'E normally extends downward from the panel D in angular relation thereto. 7

Mounted on the outer end of the rocker arm '15 is a roller 16 carried on a pivot pin 17. The roller16 is normally disposed in spaced relation to the underside of the plate 2 when the panel D is in its intermediate position but is adapted to abut the under side of the plateze when the panel" is in a lowered position as indicated at Fig. 3 and also tobear againstthe under side of the plate e when the paneLD is actuated to effect a tube squeezing action. I

The space between the plate 'e and the wall a is designed to receive a tapered filled collapsible tube G which is inserted endwise with its reduced end foremost into such space from the open outer end of the housing A to a position where the outer end m oftheitube is positioned just forwardly of the outer end of the panel D which terminates adjacent the outer end of the housing.

Patented Nov. 27, 1956 a Ma ne a hw t r end ottb mp. Wa l Aiat p 18 which projects downwardly to afford an abutment 'for the upper marginal portion of the end m of the tube V G positioned in the housing A. l

Means are provided for ripping the'tubepend m at least in mostipart f rom the sidewall portion ofthe tube G positioned in the housing which me'an s is there shown as embodying a combined slide'bar'and lever '19 slidably .supported in a guidetube 20 'pivotally mounted on a "pivot pin 21' carried; on a yoke 22 s'ecur'ed at 'the .for-

ward end}of{the wall a. One end of the bard? is fitted -with .aknob 23 and bearingbetween the lgn'ob and the guide tube- 20 is an expansiveeoilspringQZQ which norma rd po e h? ;1 .i.n. ;et 9 po nhe other end of the bar 19 -projects froin theguidetube 120,

' and is formed withva sharp: pointed hook which when the vbar 19"is disposed in an upwardly extending position forward of the housing Ais adapted to be thrust into penetrating engagement'with the side wall of the tube G '7 at .the juncture'of the latter with the tube end wall In asparticularly shown in Fig. 9. 7

Means are provided for normally holding thefbar '19 'in a position overlying the top wall a of the housing A, which means isher'e shown as comprising a .U-shaped spring clip 26 carried on the wall a. a

The lower {outer end portions of the side walls b..b are formed with opposed notches 27 adapted to receive andafford seating engagement with the margin of a conl-tainenH to support the housing Arelative to the container I-Iin inclined: relation thereto with the forward end "ln the operationef the. invention on inserting aeoli- :lapsible tube .G in the outer end of the housing vA whioh is. effected whenthe-parts of the squeezer are disposed in whee l 16 to advance the squeezing panel D upwardly on its pivotal connection with the bolts 12- 12. In itial upward movement of the panel D is efiected by the pressure imposed thereon by the roller 16 but when the link E is swung to an upwardly inclined position by upward V movement of the panel D, the link'willr come into play 1 and co-operate with theroller 16 in'forcing the panel 'D i to its uppermostposition as shown in Fig; 6.1 Thetube '2 G.will then be completely flattened out and collapsed as illustrated in Fig. 11' andwhereby the contentsof the tube G are substantially lcompletelyevacuated, The

a housing A is then removed from the container Hand the 7 bar 19 is" disengaged from the clip -26'and manipulated tofree 'the tube endm. The barpgl 9 isl then'restoredto its normal position in engagement with the clip 26. The

pull on the lever F isthen released to'allow the squeezing panel D to return to normal and thereby free the flattened tube which is then shaken clear of thehousing The squeezer is now in condition in readiness for another operation. jj While aspecific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention 7 embracessuch changes, modifications and equivalents of 30. oi-thehousing presented to the interior of thecontainer V as'shown inFig. 10.

within the purview of, the appended claims.

I claim:

theipartsand theirjformatio'n and arrangement as comej 1. A tube squeezer comprising a housing having a top wall, and'side walls and openat its forward end, a tube squeezing panel. in said housing having side margins extending adjacent the inner'faces'ofsaid'side' walls, said panel being pivotally connectedat its innerend to swing .towardzandaway from the under side of said topwall, a

their normal position as shown inFig. l,*the tube squeez- V I ing panelgD will bedepressed ,bythe tubein opposition to thesprings' 14 toa lowered position as shown gin'l' igJ.

' 3 'where the pIate eof the panel D will seat on'the roller 16 as shown vinv Fig. 3. 'When. the tube=is=thus posi tioned with its outer end adjacent the outer end' of the panel D, the raised 'portionif of the plate Z e Will'initially engage the under side hf thetube to securely grip the latteragainstzdi sp acement. The upper side, of the tube "will then seat against the under side of the wall a with h the uppermarginal portion of the tube end :wall m; en-

gaged by the tongue 18.1 The bar 1'9 .is then freed from thegr-ip 126 and swung to Jan upwardly extending :Pqsilion and at the same timeis advanced in} the; guide tube 20 in opposition to-the spring 24 to position the pointed end'of the hook 2iinen'gagement with the lower mar- 'ginal portion 'of thetubeend wall, the-hook 25jpeneatratin'g the tube sidewall at'its juncture with theend 7 Wall. Wherethe contents of the tube are tobesqueez ed into a container H, the :housing A is engagedwith the.

' container rimas before stated,theleverFandhairdleB being then :held firmlyin the handpf the operator and 16 to press-the plate e upwardlyto pause the raised por tion f thereof to indent the tube G andztherebysecurely tubeend m is" swung -to;an upwardlyinclined position as handle ffigred to said housing andfprojecting therebeneath, V

a levergpivoted tofsaid handle and normally' extending in angularrelation thereto, and meansons'aid .lever for actuating said panel toward said top wall -onadvan cing said lever and handle toward each other to thereby squeeze a tube interposed longitudinally between" said top wall and panel.

2. The structurecalled for in claim l.;toge]ther,wit h i manually operable means. carried on said topwall. for

rippinga tube end from aftube body arrangedinsaid housing;

13. In atubesqueezerya housingghaving atopiwall and an open forward end adapted to longitudinally receive a collapsible tube to be squeezed .With the tube end presented to the open endof said housing rneans'for clamp- .slightlylsqueezed toward eachother ;to c,ause :the roller;

shown inlig. ,6;an'd as -indicatedzinQdotted'JineSIimI-Tig.

19, ,The bar;19:is-then'reengaged with thecliplfi-to therehygrtziin the tubeendm inits fully-open position. The

' leverfiis' then swung inwardlytoward the handleBuunder th grip of thehand of the operatorttherebyzcausing the ing the tube within the housingagainstsaid wall a'slide bafpivotally mounted onflthe housing top wall adjacent the forward end thereof, and a hook onthe outer endof 1 saidslidebar engagea'hle with a marginal portion pf: the end wallof the collapsible-tubewhereby onswinging said bar the tube end wall may be ripped in most part from,

the tube side wall. I Y Y 7 The structure called for in claimi3 togetlier with i ispring'means on said slide .bar normally ,rnaint aining the' latter in a retracted position. h I 5. The structure-called for inf claim '3 -.tog

retain thela'tter in'a'tolded p'ositionagainst aid top Q 6. cb l psi jtube'sui e ze "link connecting ithe out'e'rjend' of s'aiid panel 'to} said-garrn,

' and a roller on :said ar-m1 arranged;-to bent" on' the under side-bf said :panelintermediatethqendstheredito w, operate with. said link -in 'advancing lfsaidipnnel.toward' 7 said Wall to efiect a squeezing action has collapsibleuuhe V interposcdibetweensaid panel fand wall. I;

Y: 7. a collapsible tube v,squeezer, V a" housing having etheriivith},

spring means on said slide bar normally maintainingthe i j latter: in a reIracted wposition,hand means on heheusiag; '1-.to'p' 'wall engageable"with sai dislide en oin h r Wall, a tribe squeezing lpane'l pi s aidfhousingarrangedoppositeaidwall, aandl'e'fiited I gon said'housing', a rocke'r" armlpiyoted onrsaidihandle 'a g 1 :lever attached toffs'aid 'rock e'rf'a'rmfor acftu ting -same, a I V handle for actuating said rocker arm, and spring means for retracting said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hainish Oct. 30, 1934 Campfens et al. July 3, 1945 

